The Yoga Studio Squamish...coming to life!!

So, i've been in Squamish barely a week and Lydia and I have been working non stop to bring The Yoga Studio Squamish to life. Last Thursday morning we walked into the studio space - the walls were barely drywalled, the floor was cracked cement and there were terrible florescent lights hindering the incredible views of the Chief and the Squamish harbour...

And now...



First we painted.
Then we floored.
Then we taught ourselves about electricity so we could put in some new lights.

Big thanks to Sonnie for being there with us and helping us every step of the way...and Scott, too, for taking the time away from school when we first arrived to help us get going on the reno's. You guys are absolutely amazing and we love you!!

We had our first practice in the space a few days ago and despite still needing more heat it was incredible. Words can't describe it, but the space is magical and Lydia and I are so excited to share it with whoever wants to come and be a part of it!!
Everyone is invited!

There is still a busy week of work...the finer details of the space, building momentum and energy. But this process is teaching us so much. Each day we practice patience and hard work. We breath deep and stay calm as we spend more money then we normally spend in a month in a few days...we enjoy the moments we have to move in our bodies after a long day of physical work. And we take the time to sleep and eat and breath...although we are admittedly a little tired after a week of long days. The practice is every moment of our day and each moment of each day is teaching us in ways we never thought were possible.

And, i couldn't imagine working and making this happen with anyone else but Lydia - thanks Lydia for inspiring me to come to Squamish and create our shared vision into the reality it will soon become!!

I am flooded with excitement,
Steeped in a dream
Filled with a deep sense of purpose for something other then myself.

And as far as i can tell there is no beginning and no end to this journey -
just a deepening sense of connectedness,
so many new souls to meet and teach and learn beside.

Hope to see you all next weekend for the grand opening - There will be by donation classes next Saturday and Sunday (march 7 & 8th) at 10 am and Noon.
Sarah

An Experiment with Back Bending

A cause of pain in back bending can be too much forward tilt in your pelvis. (Anterior Tilt). This action limits the hips from extending and lifts the back waist causing too much compression in the lower back and jams the tailbone. Perhaps you've felt it?

It is usually accompanied by gripping the buttocks, externally rotating the femur bones, and a sharp bend in the lower back. Excessive anterior tilt is due to tight hip flexors and weak or imbalanced hip extensors (gluteus maximus and hamstrings). If you have tight hip flexors (anyone ever felt this before??) it is great to stretch them before back bending. Lunging, warrior poses, supta virasana with a neutral pelvis.

To lift the hips off of the floor we need to use the glutes. However they get over used and act as external hip rotators. We need to balance this action by engaging the hamstrings and inner thighs (adductors) to create a neutral rotation by acting as internal hip rotators. The glutes need to be firm, (don't confuse squeezing them together with drawing them down towards the hamstrings) and balanced by strong hamstrings, to create a slight backward (posterior) tilt in the pelvis to bring it into neutral.
So, when going into a back bend (could be going up or going down) hug the hamstrings to the femur bones and use the inner hamstrings to inner rotate the legs to cancel out the glutes function of external rotation. Keep even weight on the inner and outer foot and this will be feedback to using your muscles in a balanced way.

Follow?

Ask questions... to yourself and your teachers.

This sequence is for people exploring deeper back bending. Regardless of how deep your back bend is, you will benefit from understanding what is going on in your body. Remember these are suggestions only. The posture practice changes. The postures change as you practice more. Every body is uniquely different. You have to be the judge of how deep you go into things. Don't take things too literally or over-exaggerate. What feels right to you without indulging in your body's preferences?

Have fun!

The Art of Not Trying...

So, it's been over a week since Rameen Peyrow was in Canmore for a workshop. Over 55 people joined in the yoga lounge to soak up a little of Rameen's contagious inspiration, to move and breath, and to connect to some deeper sense of this path of yoga.

When lots of ideas are presented i often want to let things simmer for a while to gain a real sense of what is really meaningful for me at this point on my journey. Immediately following workshops we are often flooded with information - and it is through this simmering process that we can let go of holding on too tightly to somebody elses ideas. And through this, space is created for our own ideas, our own authentic teacher to begin to grow inside of us.

Rameen spoke often last weekend of his 'art of not trying.' He commented on the way amazing things happen when we let go of this notion of trying. Now, on the surface I think this is a hard thing to understand or rationalize? Clearly there is effort as we move and breath in our asana practices, some intention is necessary to begin to explore the depths of a seated meditation practice, and deepening relationships is not an easy thing...surely we must TRY??

What on earth is Rameen alluding to with his 'art of not trying'??

Letting go.
Creating the space to observe and learn,
without expectations or judgment.

The ability to settle into this present moment,
as what IS,
while maintaining a connection
to the reality of ever present and constant change in our lives.

Trying without trying.
A world of contradictions.
And within this a world of truth
and freedom
and happiness.

maybe??

This morning was the first day of a two week mysore workshop I am running here in Canmore. It will be my last teaching here before heading to Squamish. I woke before 5 to head down to the lounge to do my own practice before teaching...except i couldn't find my car keys anywhere. Ahhh!! It's super early and i don't want to wake up Scott so I TRY really hard to find my keys quietly...of course in the process of TRYING so hard nothing ever happens, and in the moment where i surrendered and decided to stop looking i found the keys...ahh, the art of not trying is everywhere!

Another theme I have taken from Rameen's workshop relates to my recent curiosity with the pose Salabhasana. The locust pose (i.e.Lying on your stomach - hands by your side, lift shoulders and feet so that there is a gradual curve along your spine). This is a great pose for strength and support along the spine. I have been spending time over the past month holding salabhasana for long periods of time, followed by cobra, then upward dog. In every vinyasa. Some of Rameen's Satva sequencing followed on this theme. It is an amazing way to explore opening the upper spine and shoulders without compromising the lower back. Also, explore keeping the legs slightly internally rotated, groins deep and bum broad...pictures and video of this sequencing soon!!

Thanks again to Rameen and Sarah for joining us last weekend, you are both a wonderful and inspiring gift! I can't wait for you to visit our little studio in Squamish in September. To find out more about their yoga studio and Rameen's teachings check out www.theyogaloft.com.

ciao.
Sarah